1. CARICOM 34th MEETING OF THE STANDING COMMITTEE OF CARIBBEAN STATISTICIANS (34th SCCS) CASTRIES, SAINT LUCIA 26-29 October 2009

2. CARICOM Development of the Online Statistics Helpdesk Facility 34th MEETING OF THE STANDING COMMITTEE OF CARIBBEAN STATISTICIANS (34th SCCS) GROS ISLET, SAINT LUCIA 26-29 October 2009

3. CARICOM The Statistical Component is a part of the Caribbean Integration Support Programme (CISP) funded by the European Commission under the Ninth European Development Fund (9 th EDF). The overall objective is to provide the decision-makers of CARICOM with the information necessary to monitor and guide the progress in the establishment and the Strengthening of the CARICOM Single Market and Economy (CSME). BACKGROUND

4. CARICOM The expected outcome of the Statistical Component is the Improvement and Harmonised production of Economic Statistical data at the regional and national levels. BACKGROUND There are a number of interventions and support to strengthen the production and dissemination of statistics, both at the CARICOM Secretariat and in Member States. One of such interventions is the establishment of an electronic Statistics Help Desk Facility;.

5. CARICOM Some key functions of the Statistics Helpdesk include: To enhance the input resources used by producers and end users thereby enabling them to improve the quality and range of statistics; To provide information on a range of basic concepts used in statistics regionally and internationally so as to guide the process of interpreting statistics through the use of inter alia, manuals, guidelines, classifications and etc. Functions - Statistics Helpdesk

6. CARICOM To facilitate discussions among producers and end users of statistics within CARICOM regarding statistical areas of interest; To facilitate widespread networking and improve information and knowledge-sharing of statistics in key areas including user best practices and other Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs); To provide links to other useful websites including knowledge-based websites. Functions - Statistics Helpdesk Con’t

7. CARICOM The Statistics Helpdesk Service is supported by; An Electronic Centralised Registration System where users can post a question using an online form. Web-based Discussion Forums where stakeholders can follow and participate in various statistics related topics. A Documentary Service with a repository of relevant documents and manuals such as common regional guidelines for the production and dissemination of all statistics. Features - Statistics Helpdesk

8. CARICOM Technical support and information on basic statistical methods and Trade Information Systems used in the Region. Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) Features - Statistics Helpdesk Cont’d

9. CARICOM Homepage – www.caricomstats.org/helpdesk CARICOM STATISTICS HELPDESK

10. To continue the developmental work of the Statistics Helpdesk in-house; Technical Assistance to assist with the content/relevant resources for the Statistics Helpdesk. CARICOM Next Steps

11. CARICOM Brief Demonstration of the CARICOM STATISTICS HELPDESK

12. CARICOM THANK YOU THE END